Batter Up Color Variations

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by edhans

Only the Hack is a sepia. The rest appear to be blue.

Thanks, appreciate it.

[BobC]

Over the years I've come to the conclusion that the 1934-36 Batter-Up cards should more correctly and accurately be split and listed as two distinctly different sets. And quite frankly, I'm surprised they haven't been.

The obvious evidence is that cards 1-80 are all a larger, uniform size, and come in the aforementioned multiple colors/tones, as opposed to the high number cards 81-192 that are all smaller and only come in the darker, muted sepia or black/dark bluish tones. They were also issued over multiple years, with the low number series being first released in 1934, and then the high number series being released separately, around 1936 I believe.

The main evidence against this separate sets thinking, I am guessing, is that the issue is sequentially numbered from 1 to 192, so it appears it was intended as one continuous issue. And also that no players are duplicated in both the high and low number series. However, there are various other card issues that have shown such similar sequential numbering, and yet are still considered as separate and distinctly different sets. Just look at some of the W card issues. If nothing else, maybe Burdick should have designated the 1-80 low number card series as R218-1, and the 81-192 high number series as R218-2. That would seem more appropriate and consistent to how other similar set anomalies were treated and designated by him. Just my $0.02.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by BobC

Over the years I've come to the conclusion that the 1934-36 Batter-Up cards should more correctly and accurately be split and listed as two distinctly different sets. And quite frankly, I'm surprised they haven't been.

The obvious evidence is that cards 1-80 are all a larger, uniform size, and come in the aforementioned multiple colors/tones, as opposed to the high number cards 81-192 that are all smaller and only come in the darker, muted sepia or black/dark bluish tones. They were also issued over multiple years, with the low number series being first released in 1934, and then the high number series being released separately, around 1936 I believe.

The main evidence against this separate sets thinking, I am guessing, is that the issue is sequentially numbered from 1 to 192, so it appears it was intended as one continuous issue. And also that no players are duplicated in both the high and low number series. However, there are various other card issues that have shown such similar sequential numbering, and yet are still considered as separate and distinctly different sets. Just look at some of the W card issues. If nothing else, maybe Burdick should have designated the 1-80 low number card series as R218-1, and the 81-192 high number series as R218-2. That would seem more appropriate and consistent to how other similar set anomalies were treated and designated by him. Just my $0.02.

I agree with this assessment. Batter-Ups, because of the size difference, should have a separate classification.

Here are a few more of my thoughts. Based on the availability of tints, it seems like the 1-80 cards were issued in two groups: 1 to 40, with the six different tints, and 41 to 80 with the four tints. I always found it interesting that the producers really top loaded the lower numbers with stars...22 of the first 40 cards are HOF players, and plenty of other notable stars. While 41-80 only has 6 HOF players.

I also think it a possibility that cards 81-192 were issued in two 56 card groups (81-136 and 137-192). I have never paid much attention to the tints on these higher numbers (I prefer the look of the 1-80 cards over the higher numbers), but to me it seems there are possibly more subtle tints available than just sepia and blue/black...any others out there who can chime in?

Brian

[brianp-beme]

I just realized that I previously posted a lot of the same info seen directly above. Indeed, 8 years ago in post #3 on this thread.

At least I am consistent.

Brian

[judsonhamlin]

In the land of useless tasks, I plan on trying to recreate the high number sheets - I am sure they were not issued sequentially and I strongly suspect that 81-192 were skip numbered and released at separate times based on team ID and uniform photos in the high numbers, as well as the font size used in the caption boxes.

[Chris-Counts]

It's nice to see this thread get some activity after eight years. I agree the Batter-Ups should be divided into separate 1934 and 1936 sets. As for those issued in '36, here are the variations I have. It appears there are distinctive subtle tints of green, blue, brown and gold, along with some cards done in straight B&W.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

It's nice to see this thread get some activity after eight years. I agree the Batter-Ups should be divided into separate 1934 and 1936 sets. As for those issued in '36, here are the variations I have. It appears there are distinctive subtle tints of green, blue, brown and gold, along with some cards done in straight B&W.

Some of those are extremely subtle...none of that bold "I'm a green tint" and "Well I'm obviously a red tint" as seen in the lower number cards.

Brian

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

In the land of useless tasks, I plan on trying to recreate the high number sheets - I am sure they were not issued sequentially and I strongly suspect that 81-192 were skip numbered and released at separate times based on team ID and uniform photos in the high numbers, as well as the font size used in the caption boxes.

Intriguing idea about the skip numbering. Both card #81 and #192 appear to have the bigger font, which in my mind would indicate that they belong to the first high # printing, because the makers would want kids to know what range of cards they needed to collect.

Though it may seem like an useless task for many, the results would be fascinating for us fortunate few. For my type of fun I think I will utilize the Old Cardboard gallery for this set to determine large/or small font size on each of the high # cards, and post those results here. In my ideal world, there would be 56 of each type.

Brian